The War of 1812
The war of 1812 was a military war between the United States and Great Britain. Since Canada was a colony of Great Britain the Canadians were also involved and America invaded then on a number of occasions. It started in 1812 and finished in 1814. What started this whole war was the problem that occurred in Europe when Great Britain made some choices that the Americans didn't quite agree with. Europe closed all of its ports to Great Britain so they were not able to trade. Great Britain then slowed down the trade for Europe by making all ships get a license to sail to Europe and also by stopping American ships from trading there. And then the problem escalated with the Americans. Adding on to that the British would take native born Americans and make them work on British ships. On June 1st 1812 President Madison sent congress request for war and it was approved with a vote then the senate also approved after a vote so then on June 18th President Madison signed the official declaration of war against Great Britain. The Americans has a lot more soldiers than The British and Canadians. The Americans decided to attack Upper Canada. The British won this battle but many say it was more like a draw.
Key Points
- U.S. troops engaged: 286,730
- American battle deaths: 2,260
- The U.S. declared war on Great Britain during its war with France.
- America passed a series of laws that closed its ports to British ships that were loaded with goods they planned to sell in the U.S.
- Colonists suspected that Britain was trying to prevent their western expansion by trying to claim land in what was then the Northwest Territory (now the Ohio River Valley) and arm American Indians.
- War was declared on June 18, 1812.
- Capt. Oliver Perry's victory on Lake Erie in September 1813 allowed American forces, under Gen. William Henry Harrison, to advance against the British, who burned Detroit and retreated into Canada.
- In August of 1814 a British expedition to Chesapeake Bay won an easy victory at Bladensburg and took Washington, burning the Capitol and the White House. The victorious British, however, were halted at Fort McHenry before they reached Baltimore, persuading British statesmen to end the war.
- The American victory at Fort McHenry near Baltimore inspired Francis Scott Key to write our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
- The Treaty of Ghent was signed in 1814. The British gave up their demands for the Great Lakes region and an American Indian state under British rule. It helped further establish the northern boundary with Canada. The loss of British support gave the Indians little choice but to give up their land in the Northwest Territory.
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